Oxfordshire look set for a mid-table finish in Division 1 of the Riley's Inter-County Chsanmpionship after going down 19-17 away to Somerset in their seventh match of the season.

Oxon trailed 10-8 after the B team encounters on the first day at the Widcombe Social Club in Bath on Saturday.

The ladies B side drew 3-3, their wins coming from Kelly Howell, Kim Ledbury and lady-of-the-match Babs Manning (18.42 average).

Oxon men’s B stormed into a 4-1 lead through Nigel Russell, man-of-the-match Jon Jukes (26.37), Ian Moss and Olly Varney (25.18) before Somerset hit back to capture the next three.

Phil Addison made it 5-4 to the visitors, but that was their final success of the day as Somerset grabbed the last three games to run out 7-5 victors overall.

Oxon’s ladies A side went one down before hitting back via lady-of-the-match Linda Jones (22.38).

Somerset then took control by winning the next three games until Deta Hedman (22.29) stopped the rot.

Victory for Somerset in the last game gave them the verdict and meant Oxon found themselves 14-10 down going into the men’s A encounter.

Preben Krabben went down in the opening game despite hitting 15 ton-plus scores and Oxon were soon 2-0 in arrears.

Kevin Wilkins (27.97) halted the slide, but the fourth game was also lost.

Andy Thomas took the next but a win for Somerset in the sixth put them 18-12 ahead and meant they could not lose.

Oxon then began a spirited fightback with victories coming from from Dennis Smith (29.47), Mark Thomson (27.18), Pete Hall and man-of-the-match Stuart Dutton (32.00).

However, needing the last two games to draw, the visitors lost the next before Roger Haines sealed a 7-5 success for his team.

So with two more games to play in this campaign, Oxon will finish in mid-table after a promising start to the season.